Estimating Risk at the Energy Production Unit of “AHS” Keratea-
Lavrio
KERPELIS P.1,2, ARGYRIOU A-C.1, ALEXAKIS D.Ε.2, KOTINAS V.2
1Department of Civil Engineering, University of West Attica, Campus 2, 250 Thivon & P. Ralli Str.,
GR-12241 Athens, GREECE
2Laboratory of Geoenvironmental Science and Environmental Quality Assurance, Department of Civil
Engineering, University of West Attica, Campus 2, 250 Thivon & P. Ralli Str., GR-12241 Athens,
GREECE
Correspodence: kerpelis@uniwa.gr
Abstract: - Every business should protect its employees in matters of Safety and Health. It is deemed necessary
to access, analyze and classify risks to achieve these issues. The study aims to analyse and estimate
occupational risk based on the appropriate empirical " Checklist " method by the responsible staff. Specifically,
the relevant legislation and Regulations-Directives from Greek and European sources were studied to approach
the Safety and Health issues and data for Risk Analysis. Considering the theoretical background of the energy
production, a rapid visual screening of the Unit of Keratea-Lavrio Steam Power Station (“AHS” Keratea-
Lavrio) was conducted. In addition, discussions were held with the facilities' managers, who are responsible for
developing and implementing safety and health plans and highlighting and analyzing critical points of the
station. Afterwards, the total risk(after taking into account several factors) is identified and classifiedinto three
categories, revealing the corresponding risk reduction measures. Conclusions about safety and hygiene were
drawn about the “AHS” Keratea-Lavrio Energy Production Unit.
Key-Words: health and safety; risk assessment; safety assessment; occupational accident; energy production
units; checklist empirical method
Received: February 7, 2023. Revised: November 22, 2023. Accepted: December 24, 2023. Published: March 4, 2024.
1 Introduction
Small enterprises have given rise to handicrafts and
factories that are nowadaysconverted into
enterprises of different sizes. In 1527 Agricola, a
Saxon physician, proposed the employment of a
doctor in mines and mines [1]. The Industrial
Revolution movement (18th-20th century), followed
by other European cities such as France and the
United States of America, created new risks for
factory workers, setting new priorities for safety.
Defending workers at risk in courts was complex
due to the fear of dismissal, lack of evidence, high
financial costs and the lack of qualified lawyers. In
1833 and 1844, laws were enacted in Great Britain
(as Factory Acts) to protect industry workers [2]. In
1919, at the International Labor Conference,
conventions were signed that defined the minimum
age limit for workers in Industries and issues related
to night work for young people. In 1833, the
Inspector of Factories was founded in the same
country. In 1835, Massachusetts passed laws
prohibiting the employment of children under ten
years of age and created a Bureau of Statistics that
evolved into today's Department of Labor. In 1911,
the first legislation on employer's liability and
workers' compensation was introduced in the event
of an accident. Later, in 1913, the National Accident
Safety Board was established in Europe and the
United States. In 1959, the ΄΄Medical Work΄΄ policy
was created and implemented in order to protect
workers following International Convention 112
(recommendation 171/1985).
In the European Union (EU), a legal provision
was created to improve safety in the workplace
(Single European Act), the year 1987 [3]. The
substantial milestone Directive 89/391/EEC
introducesthe Europe's minimum safety and health
requirements and refers that member states had to
incorporate it into their national legislation by 1992.
In 1997, the Treaty of Amsterdam defined the
responsibilities of employers and employees, and
articles 136, 151 were drafted in the Treaty of
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DOI: 10.37394/232033.2024.2.6
Kerpelis P., Argyriou A-C.,
Alexakis D.E., Kotinas V.
E-ISSN: 2945-1159
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Lisbon. Later, the European Parliament and Council
legislated on the health and safety of workers
(European Regulation 1338/2008). Accordingly, in
2011, the European Regulation 349/2011 regarding
statistics on accidents at work was drawn up, and
the variables, distributions and metadata to be
provided by Member States were approved in detail.
Directives as the Directive 89/391/European
Economic Community (EEC), Directive
(EU)89/654/EEC: about Working areas, Directive
89/655/EEC: about working equipment, improve
health and safety issues of the workers. Other
similar Directives are Directive 89/656/EEC: about
personal working equipment, such as Directive
90/269/European Economic Community: about
Manual movement of loads and the Directive
(EU)89/270/EEC: about Work on equipment with a
visual display screen.
Eurostat as Health and Safety Authority in
Ireland [4] records occupational accidents. The
complete list for data collection from the European
Statistics on Accidents at Work (ESAW) includes
nine (9) variables related to: workstation, work
environment, work process, specific physical
activity, materials associated with physical activity,
deviations, materials related to deviations, contact
and injury, and materials related to contact and
mode of injury. The categorization of the statistical
data highlights the occupational accidents that
happened to men-women, and the participation of
occupational accidents of specific categories
(agriculture-forestry-fishing, industries,
constructions, wholesale-retail trade, transport-
storage) concerning the whole. Fatal or non-fatal
occupational accidents (according the age of the
workers or the causes and the mode of injury) are
illuminated in the light of statistics.
European Council reveals the guidelines on
topics such as: Directives-Frameworks, workplaces,
equipment, signage, Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE), exposure to physical, biological and
chemical agents, provisions for ergonomic,
psychosocial risks and workload, as well as special
provisions for various sectors and workers. Some of
the main Directives are: 89/391/EEC Directive
Framework, 89/654/EEC workplaces, 89/655/EEC
Work equipment, 89/656/EEC PPE, 90/269/EEC
Manual Handling of loads and 90/270/EEC: Work
on equipment with visual display screen. EU
promotes the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) for minimizing the
occupational accidents [5].
In Greece, the former Social Insurance
Institution called “IKA”, in collaboration with the
Ministry of Labour, had collected statistical data on
occupational accidents, from 1964 to 1998. Law
1568/1985 establishes the Safety Technician, the
Occupational Physician, the Health and Safety
Committee and the worker protection measures. The
Hellenic Statistical Authority (HSA) has been
recording occupational accidents since 1998.
European Regulation 1338/2008 and Implementing
Regulation 349/2011 apply [6]. At the same time,
the Laws that apply nowadays are the Law 551/1915
and the Mandatory Law1846/1951 (Article 8,
paragraph 4). Law 1568/1985 establishes essential
issues for the health and safety of employees (safety
technician, occupational doctor, etc.). Other Law
literature is Law 3850/2010 about the participants
(Technical Safety, Occupational Doctor, Committee
for Health and Safety at work), Law 4075/2012
about “IKA” insurance regulation issues and Law
4808/2021 about the establishment of an
Independent Labour Inspectorate. President's decree
as 294/1988, 395/1994, 396/1994, 105/1995,
16/1996, 17/1996 etc regulate partial health and
safety issues. Also, circulars from the former “IKA
27/2011, 52/2011, 45/2010, 22/2004, 55/2001 and
15/1987 assist these issues [7].
Statistics on fatal accidents at work in mines and
quarries were released in 2021 and showed that the
percentage ranges till 3.2% of the total. Over the
years, the needs, amendments and new
jurisprudence were followed with the aim of
ensuring Health and Safety in technical projects,
industries, and every professional branch of the
country.
2 Problem Formulation
It is evident that essential enterprises/infrastructures
like energy production units must implement health
and safety rules [8]. It has proved that all the
participants must work cooperatively with
prevention from the beginning of infrastructure to
address potential risks in time [9]. Researchers
reviewed safety and risk management methods for
long periods, from decade 60s until the present [10].
The main scope of this research is estimating the
risk at the “AHS” Keratea-Lavrio. The risk analysis
must also consider all the potential factors involved.
Frankly, occupational accidents are multi-
parametric incidents, including latent and active
possible causes.
Implementing the legislative framework includes
the obligations of employers and workers,
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DOI: 10.37394/232033.2024.2.6
Kerpelis P., Argyriou A-C.,
Alexakis D.E., Kotinas V.
E-ISSN: 2945-1159
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cooperation between them and the competent
authorities, the existence of a Safety Technician, an
Occupational Doctor and a Committee for the health
and safety of employees (“EYAE”). Alternatively,
its services may be provided by an External Service
for Health and Safety (“EXIPP”). Continuous
education and training must be performed, and
protective measures about first aid, fire fighting, and
the evacuation method must be implemented.
Risks in the work environment are the non-
observance of instructions, the incorrect use of PPE
and personal protective measures, the failure to
report any omission or problem and the failure to
make arbitrary decisions (e.g. moving equipment).
The enterprise must draw up Safety and Health Plan
(SHP) and the Safety and Health File (SHF). The
working area during the construction period must be
kept safe, using fencing, signage, pharmacy and
PPE, according to the SHP. Similarly, SHF provides
the project details and valuable information for its
later life (such as maintenance, cleaning and
conversions) must bind the plan.
Fig. 1:Steps of occupational risk assessment
Law 3850/2010, President's decree as 305/1996 and
certifications of ISO (as ISO 45001:2008, ISO
45003:2021, IEC/ISO 31010:2019 and ISO/TR
14121-2:2012) must be respected [11]. Hellenic
Labour Inspectorate is monitoring the processes of
health and safety.
Occupational risk is linked with exposure to
harmful factors, including the frequency of
accidents, probability, and consequences.
Researchers verify that accident occurrences and
their consequences show a non-uniform fluctuation
during the years and confirm the uncertainty and the
unpredictable nature of accidents [10]. ELINYAE
categorizes the risks into three (3) classes: Safety,
health and ergonomic hazards. The first step for risk
analysis is the recognition of risks directly at work.
The next step is the protective measures that must
be taken. Occupational risk assessment can reduce
or even eliminate most risks. If some of them cannot
be completely eliminated, it is possible to adopt the
appropriate measures to reduce them. It is necessary
to record the sources of risk and the number of
employees exposed to them. Figure 1 presents the
steps for the occupational risk analysis.
Safety and health problems can be easily solved
using simple mathematical tools such as pocket
calculators, spreadsheets or even programs like
Mathcad using models (as the exposure to acetone
vapors from a small acetone spill in a place). Safety
professionals become more effective if they have
robust math skills, but different industries have their
own specific equations based on the type of work.
The advise is that safety expert must lean on their
colleagues in their community for retrieving data
[12].
Table 1. Methods of risk analysis
a/a
Qualitative
estimation
Quantitative
estimation
1
Checklists
Event Tree
Analysis (ETA)
2
Preliminary hazard
analysis (PHA)
Fault Tree
Analysis (FTA)
3
Safety Flowchart
Failure Mode and
Effects Analysis
(FMEA)
4
What If Analysis
(WIA)
Failure modes and
effects and critical
analysis
(FMECA)
5
Bow-Tie Analysis
6
Hazard and
operability
study(HAZOP)
7
Layers of Protection
Analysis (LOPA)
8
Security Vulnerability
Analysis (SVA)
OSHA has established specific mathematical
calculations enabling companies to report their
recordable incident rates, lost time, and severity
rates [5]. The standard base rate for the calculations
is based on 200,000 labour hours. These hours
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DOI: 10.37394/232033.2024.2.6
Kerpelis P., Argyriou A-C.,
Alexakis D.E., Kotinas V.
E-ISSN: 2945-1159
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equate to 100 employees who work 40 hours per
week and 50 weeks per year. Using this
standardized base rate, companies can calculate
their rate(s) and get a percentage per 100
employees. Safety professionals can use comparing,
and benchmarking tools via internet to calculate
these indicators (occupational injury and illness
incidence rates) [13].
The present study uses the qualitative estimation
method of “Checklist”. It’s an empirical method of
estimation, just like the methods of questionnaires
that are used by the European Union (OSHA). Oral
communications with the responsible for the station
and frequent visits to it revealed the danger that the
working area runs through. Statistical Science is
used for the analysis of occupational risk.
Table 1 presents the risk assessment methods
[14]. Another significant categorization of the
qualitative risk analysis are the categories including
Brainstorming, Interviewing, Delphi technique,
Historical data, Operating hazard analysis (OHA),
Risk matrixes [15], as well as Toxicity assessment
(TA), Structured “What-if” technique (SWIFT) and
Scenario analysis (SA). Additionally, other methods
are: Business impact analysis (BIA), Route cause
analysis (RCA), Cause-consequence analysis, Cause
and effect analysis, Decision tree analysis, Human
reliability assessment (HRA) [16]. Between the
qualitative and quantitative method exists the semi-
qualitative method. Many uncertainties exist to all
the methods [17].
2.1 Description of the Health and Safety at
“AHS” Keratea-Lavrio
The main scope of this study is served by the on-site
visit of the “AHS” Keratea-Lavrio the summer of
2023. It was noticed that the power station was
founded in 1950. In 1974, the Lavrio Energy Center
was created with the first Steam Power Unit with a
power of 150,000 KW and then the second with a
power of 300,000 KW. In 1980 the 234 MW gas
turbine units were operated at the Station. The
“AHS” Keratea-Lavrio was in regular operation in
1998 with the completion of the installation of the
natural gas pipeline as well as with the completion
of the "MikroLavrio", with 117 MW power (1997).
The power unit consists of the central units of the
production, three retired units, water treatment
facilities, cooling seawater and industrial waste
treatment plants, port facilities, tanks of oil and
diesel, natural gas arrival station, warehouses,
machine shop, maintenance building, chemical
Laboratory, Administration building, restaurant-
canteen and other auxiliary buildings.
The station currently has two production units
run using natural gas and diesel. These materials are
unloaded at the port facility and stored in the
existing tanks. In the facilities of the Station, there
are storage areas for materials used during
maintenance, but also for chemical substances for
the control of the Chemistry. The Chemistry
operates throughout the day, carrying out
continuous checks.At the same time, the facilities
for water treatment, seawater treatment for cooling
the units and industrial waste treatment are also in
continuous operation.
The number of employees (about 170 workers) is
variable. It is divided into permanent staff,
temporary staff and contract staff. People with
disabilities do not exist, but there are provisions for
visitors. The enterprise employs Safety Technician,
Occupational Doctor and nurses, Committee for
health and safety (called “EYAE”) and Port Facility
Security Officer (called “YALE”). EYAE consists
of three (3) workers, and laws are strictly followed.
A central and seven (7) partial pharmacies exist.
The employees carry out preventive check-ups and
their medical records are maintained.
As noticed, the “Health and Safety Plan”, the
“Emergency Response Plan”, the “Port Facility
Security Plan” and the “Safety Plan of Operation”
were according the legislation and they were
reviewed at regular intervals. The “Emergency
Response Plan” covers emergencies involving Fire
(explosion or chemical spill), Natural phenomena
(such as earthquake) and illegal acts (such as
terrorism). The “Safety Plan of Operation” is drawn
up following the SOLAS XI-2 Convention, the
International Code for the Security of Ships and Port
Facilities (ISPS Code), Regulation (EC) 725/2004
and Laws 3622/2007 and 4150/2013.
The Safety Technician, the Occupational Doctor,
the “EYAE” and the Port Facility Safety Officer
“PFSO” were in reaction with the “Book of Written
Instructions”, the Accident Book” and the “Book
for Measurements of Harmful Factors”. The
Harmful factors are determined as noise, particulate
matters, the microclimate (as lighting and
ventilation) and hazardous substances. “AHS”
Keratea-Lavrio has been certified for Safety and
Health at Work and the Environment according to
the standards of ELOT ISO 45001 (evolution of the
British standard BS OHSAS 18001) and ELOT ISO
14001. An annual program is drawn up every year
trainingunder previous ISOs.
Safety specifications consisted of the
equipment's stability, strength and firmness, the
cooperation of all the safety contributors and
compliance with the regulations. Examples of these
situations are the prevention of fire during work,
measurement of harmful factors, appropriate
lighting, door safety devices, smoking areas, and
more. Another crucial specification for safety is the
“Lock box” and “Lockout systems. The first is a
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Alexakis D.E., Kotinas V.
E-ISSN: 2945-1159
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safety net based on “Isolation protocol” for the
operation of mechanical energy. The second is a
method where the isolation is done using a locking
mouthpiece with unique padlocks (depending on the
number of tasks). Padlocks have unique keys. After
all, for the implementation of any work, the
“Uniform Regulation for Issuing Work Permits for
Thermal Power Plants” is followed, the employees
are trained and the appropriate materials and tools
are selected, considering the cases of fire and more.
Emergency traffic routes - danger zones
predicted in case of emergencies. Emergency exits
have been studied, properly planned (according to
the number of employees that should evacuate the
area) and inspected twice a week. The emergency
doors are unlocked and have suitable safety
mechanisms (even manual ones) to prevent them
from closing suddenly (presence of doors with
“push bars”). Vehicle gates were provided space for
pedestrian traffic.
According to Presidential Decree 105/95 and the
“Written Occupational Risk Assessment”, there are
signages in the area. On the traffic roads of the
Station, the markings have been signed following
the provisions of the “Road Traffic Code” (Law
2696/1999) and frequent checking has been
performed. The marking of the premises is divided
into permanent and occasional marking. Permanent
marking is achieved with signs and paints. It refers
to the prohibition, warning, obligation, recognition
and identification of first aid and rescue equipment
for dealing with a fire, marking containers of
materials and pipes, marking possible hazards of
impact with objects or falls, and marking traffic
roads. Occasional signage refers to the marking of
hazardous events, as the danger of slipping (during
the cleaning works). In addition, situational
signalling also refers to calling people for a specific
action, the urgent removal of people and the
guidance of people with manipulations (such as
sound-light signals, wireless communication
systems and signals with gestures).
Posted boards with instructions (such as safe
working conditions and first aid) are everywhere. A
thermometric system can measure the temperature
of the employees and visitors (because of
COVID19). Ιn all areas, there is an antiseptic hand
solution and signs for using a protective mask. No
smoking areas exist at the Station. Other rooms are
appropriate for the resting of the employees.
Changing rooms and storage of clothing, their
personal belongings and personal protective
measures also exist. Guests are provided with a
safety helmet, a disposable cap (to be fitted before
the helmet), and disposable earplugs.
PPE granted to all the employees, according the
European Standards EN [18]. These consisted of
safety helmets (according to EN397 and EN166),
safety footwear (EN345/92 S3), work gloves
(EN388 and EN420), multi-purpose or disposable
plugs (EN352-1, EN352-2 and EN352-3), safety
glasses (EN166) and face safety mask (EN175).
Other means were fluorescent vests, headphones,
safety belts, lashing ropes, safety loops, oxygen
masks and stored oxygen bottles. Additionally,
depending on the specialty and the work of the
technical staff is defined extra PPE by the Safety
Technician.
In addition, specialized trainings were carried out
for the technical staff, either when new equipment is
used, training at the Port Facility of the Station,
evacuation training for all the station staff, and
training for the Physical Safety (Security) staff. In
addition, collaborations carried out to conduct drills
by the Fire Department and other agencies. The
Station has appropriate fire detection and fire
extinguishing equipment (CO2 and powder
individual fire extinguishers ABCE) and automatic
systems (system Deluge). The deluge CO2 has
backup bottles of extinguishing material. Fire
pumps (petrol and electric-driven), tanks, fire
stations and hoses connected to the central water
supply system join their forces against a possible
fire at the station. Fire safety teams for each area of
the Station can intervene to suppress fire outbreaks.
The installed optical systems and audible alarms
assisted in warning. All media is signed, regularly
maintained and checked weekly.
The microclimate for workplaces is often
checked. The proper and sufficient provision
provided fresh air where it was necessary to install a
ventilation and air duct system. The temperature
during work is adjusted according to the needs of
the human body and the climatic conditions of the
seasons. At regular intervals, measurements of
harmful factors are made, which are repeated
approximately every five years or more often if
there is a change in the equipment or the use of it. In
the event of a fire inside a unit, a mechanical system
is installed for direct ventilation of the space. Every
workplace has adequate lighting, either natural or
artificial.
3 Problem Solution
The survey's main goal is the risk analysis at the
“AHS” Keratea-Lavrio, using a checklist recording
various potential factors that are taken into account
to identify the total risk of this power plant. After
many visits into the site and interviews with the
responsible staff, the possible risks were identified,
recorded and included typical examples of the
manifestation of the risks, the degree of risks and
the description of possible effects. Furthermore, the
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Alexakis D.E., Kotinas V.
E-ISSN: 2945-1159
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Volume 2, 2024
participants were called to propose measures needed
in order to reduce the identified risks.
The risk analysis processed the aggregated data.
A checklist about the above factors was created and
is presented in Table 2 and more detailed in
Appendix 1. The Safety Technician, Occupational
Doctor and PFSO contributed to the rating of the
risk analysis. Every factor is categorized with values
between 1 and 5 i.e. “Low Risk” (values 1-2),
“Moderate Risk” (value 3) and “High Risk” (values
4-5). Low Risk” values indicate that acceptable
risk exists in parallel with certain protective
measures, while “Moderate Risk” indicates that
programming is needed, protection measures have
to be implemented and extended monitoring is
necessary. “High Risk” value is an indication of the
immediate need for the implementation of several
protective measures.
Table 2. Summary table of the main factors of the
risk analysis
Threats
Ranking of
risks
Occupancy of
entrances/exits of the
station
Low
Occupancy of an internal
part of the station
Low
Occasional section capture
coastal zone or the Port
Moderate
Intentional contamination
of the coastal section of the
station
High
Technological
infrastructure disasters
minor scale
High
Technological
infrastructure disasters
High
Phone pranks, Bombing
threats
Moderate
Falling of an employee
of the station or crew of the
fuel transport vessel within
the sea area near the station
High
Fires inside the station
High
Collapse (total or partial)
of the buildings and the
facilities of the station
High
Traffic accident on the
internal road network of the
station
Pandemics
High
Moderate
The analysis highlights 12 factors that may occur at
the station, according to the responsible staff of the
Unit. These factors are occupations of entrances and
exits, sea pollution, technological disasters,
employee falls, fires, building collapses, traffic
accidents and pandemics. The possible impacts were
considered, and proposed measures need to be taken
in any of the cases mentioned earlier for their
mitigation.
Table 3. Summary table of the main preventive
measures of the risk analysis
Type of
risk
reduction
measures
Preventive measures for mitigation
of the impacts
1.
Preventive measures (before the
disaster/occupational accident)
1.1.
Create more emergency entrances
and exits
1.2.
Installation of a microphone system
for emergency announcements to
staff/workers
1.3.
Installation of emergency signs
(i.e. speed limit signs)
1.4.
Reserve operation planning and
communications systems
1.5.
Preparation and elaboration of energy
plans, in cooperation with the
Facilities Security Director
1.6.
Preparation actions and
implementation of emergency
response plans (performing
emergency exercises and
evacuations)
1.7.
Regular training of Station
employees regarding the
implementation of emergency
response plans, the correct use of
life-saving equipment, PPE, safety
road rules as well as the provision of
First Aid
The categorization of the factors revealed that two
(2) factors characterized as “Low Risk”, 3 factors as
“Moderate Risk” while seven (7) factors as “High
Risk”. These results are similar to our expected
values as the “AHS” Keratea-Lavrio is a critical
infrastructure facing several dangers/risks. It is
remarkable that factors associated with “High Risk”
include heavy impacts to the people or/and to the
environment. “Moderate Risk” factors are
associated with injuries while other operational
issues (as the shutdown of the station) are
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DOI: 10.37394/232033.2024.2.6
Kerpelis P., Argyriou A-C.,
Alexakis D.E., Kotinas V.
E-ISSN: 2945-1159
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Volume 2, 2024
characterized as “Low Risk”. In any case, protective
measures are proposed. In percentages, “Low Risk”
occupies a percentage of 16,7% of the whole risk,
“Moderate Risk” occupies 25% while “High Risk”
occupies 58,3%.
The survey separates the measures needed due to
the station's risk analysis at two central classes: (i)
preventive measures before the dangers and (ii)
management measures after the occurrence and the
impacts of the danger. The first measures are seven
(7) and the second is eleven (11). Table 3 presents
these preventive risk reduction measures, while
Table 4 portraysthe management measures,
according the exclusively dangers detected.
Table 4. Summary table of the main management
measures of the risk analysis
Type of
risk
reduction
measures
Management measures for
mitigation of the impacts
2.
Management measures (after the
disaster/occupational accident)
2.1.
Implementation of emergency
response plans, in collaboration with
the Safety Facilities’ Division –
Estimating of the situation
2.2.
Informing the emergency services
and the Public Authorities (Fire
Department/ Police / Port Officer-
Coastal guard and the Prefecture /
Municipality)
2.3.
Inform all staff about the incident
over the public address system, using
a microphone system
2.4.
Activation of fire safety
2.5.
Activation of ambulance and nursing
operation team
2.6.
Activation of Port security plans
under by the Port Facility Safety
Officer (YALE)
2.7.
Activation of building evacuation
teams
2.8.
Interruption of vehicle traffic on the
internal road network
2.9.
Granting of PPE for the employees
2.10
Relocation of services
2.11
Creating preconditions for the
reception of external aid and the
removal of people in danger
A similar risk analysis methodology was applied at
the Water Treatment Systems of “AHS” Melitis in
2018, using the consequences of dangers and the
probabilities to occur. The result was the proposed
preventive measures to those involved [19].
Industries recently used improved safety
checklists using intelligent video surveillance to
replace on-site inspections. These methods prove
the entrance of media and distance checking of
vulnerabilities at the altar of the safety and health
evaluation [20].
Researchers proved that checklist judgment
accuracy was similar to quantitative exposure
judgment accuracy observed in studies of similar
design [21]. Occupational health specialists applied
checklists for the evaluation of psychosocial risk.
Increased competence in specific skills was
recorded with the sample of physicians that didn’t
participate [22].
Observation is one of the main discovery issues
implemented in qualitative approaches in public
health [23]. At this glance, the present risk analysis
focuses on all the infrastructure hazards the staff is
exposed to. Risk analysis about pesticides and
chemical substances also uses preliminary tool
models by farmers for practical use [24]. In
addition, hazardous materials, and much more are
been involved in the final assessment.
The study is a first step in risk analysis of the
station, using checklist approach [25] according to
construction safety principles [26]. That procedure
of preliminary studies (as qualitative methods) is
standard to engineering problems and studies,
causing positive or negative results [27], when it is
compared with quantitative predictions.
The present problem is approached through a
qualitative first reading to take immediate protection
measures or to give priorities for further study. This
is supported by the limited time and finances that
the administrations have for taking restrictive
measures. It considered the opinion of the
responsible staff of the Unit (charged with several
responsibilities on the site), who take care of all the
procedures and recognize all the parameters of the
problems. These estimates also depend on the
timing carried out. In this study, the implementation
took place during the summer season, which means
that the work was carried out with less staff (due to
summer vacations), but the station managers were
more willing to be recorded their opinions on the
checklist. The opinion of the responsible staff
depends also from their perception of the danger and
the risk. More detailed studies must be done for
more focused research, as well as the assessment of
the risk.
4 Conclusion
“AHS” Keratea-Lavrio is a critical infrastructure
near the capital of Greece, and all stakeholders
International Journal of Environmental Engineering and Development
DOI: 10.37394/232033.2024.2.6
Kerpelis P., Argyriou A-C.,
Alexakis D.E., Kotinas V.
E-ISSN: 2945-1159
69
Volume 2, 2024
(Greek state, municipality of Lavrio and the local
society) need to show greater interest and be aware
of its potential vulnerabilities, due to several future
risks. The Laws are multifarious, including all the
parameters of occupational accidents according to
European Union Directives and ISO standards.
Organizations, institutes, and other government
bodies treat all issues related to these aspects.
Safety Technician, Occupational Doctor,
Commitees and the responsible staff of the Energy
Unit must monitor and implement health and safety,
using primary rapid observations, including
checklists, as a qualitative risk evaluation method.
The participants can indicate danger issues and the
risk mitigation must be planned.
Various risks are generated at “AHS” Keratea-
Lavrio. The analysis highlights twelve (12) threat
factors according to the checklist that was created
during this study. The impacts of the dangers are
five (5), ranking from a station shut down, a port
shut down, injuries, deaths and environmental
impacts. Furthermore, the factors are classified as
risks according to the description of their effects.
The result is that this energy Unit has a
significant percentage 58.3% of High Risk (as
expected), and a lower percentage of Moderate
(25%) and Low Risk (16.7%). The severity of the
five impact factors of threats is closely related to the
ranking of the risk scale (high, moderate, low).
Specific measures (that are nominated) must be
implemented in any case of future risk to mitigate
the impacts of disasters or occupational accidents.
Seven (7) risk reduction measures are categorised as
protective measures, while eleven (11) are the most
common among the interviewees as management
measures.
The risk analysis reveals valuable data for their
administration, similar infrastructure, and the
government to draw up risk management policy, set
priorities, and choose the optimal potential
solutions. Local construction agencies may improve
the safety and health measures for risk mitigation.
Furthermore, the on-site investigation described in
this study can assist the professionals understand the
role of every involved factor. The future direction
may be the more focused exanimation of the risk
factors, the correlation with the results of
quantitative methods, or even more of the
connection of the present method with new
technologies (such as cameras). More risk analysis
surveys will eventually be required to precisely
determine health and safety issues.
Acknowledgement:
The authors appreciate the cooperation of the
responsible employees and managers of the “AHS’
Keratea-Lavrio, who provided us with the needed
data.
Also,being thankful to the editor and reviewers
for their valuable comments and suggestions
certainly enhanced the quality of this article.
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Contribution of Individual Authors to the
Creation of a Scientific Article (Ghostwriting
Policy)
Dr Ploutarchos Kerpelis was responsible for the
conceptualization, methodology, writing and
supervision.
Andriani-Christina Argyriou implemented the
conceptualisation, made the formal analysis visits to
the Power Station, and was responsible for the data
curation.
Dr Dimitrios E. Alexakis, Dr Vasileios Kotinas have
written/edit, organized the resources and had the
supervision.
International Journal of Environmental Engineering and Development
DOI: 10.37394/232033.2024.2.6
Kerpelis P., Argyriou A-C.,
Alexakis D.E., Kotinas V.
E-ISSN: 2945-1159
71
Volume 2, 2024
Sources of Funding for Research Presented in a
Scientific Article or Scientific Article Itself
No funding was received for conducting this study.
Conflict of Interest
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare
that are relevant to the content of this article.
Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0
(Attribution 4.0 International, CC BY 4.0)
This article is published under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en
_US
Appendix 1: Ranking of the station risks and measures needed
a/a
Ranking of risk
(1-5)
Description of effects
a. Station shutdown
b. Port shutdown
c. Injury
d. Death
e. Environmental
impacts
Risk reduction measures
(Table 3-4)
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
1.
2
1.1., 1.2. 1.5, 1.7., 2.2.
2.
1
1.2., 1.3., 1.5., 1.7.
2.2., 2.6.
3.
3
1.2., 1.3., 1.5., 1.7.
2.2., 2.6.
4.
5
1.1. - 1.7.
2.1. - 2.11.
5.
4
1.4. - 1.7.
2.1., 2.2.
6.
5
1.1. - 1.7.
2.1. - 2.11
7.
3
1.5. -1.7.
2.1. - 2.3.
8.
4
1.3., 1.4. - 1.7.
2.1., 2.3., 2.5., 2.6., 2.8.
9.
5
1.1. - 1.7.
2.1. - 2.11.
10.
5
1.1. - 1.7.
2.1. - 2.11.
11.
5
1.1. - 1.7.
2.1. - 2.11.
12.
3
1.3., 1.5. - 1.7.
2.1 - 2.3., 2.5., 2.6., 2.9., 2.10.
International Journal of Environmental Engineering and Development
DOI: 10.37394/232033.2024.2.6
Kerpelis P., Argyriou A-C.,
Alexakis D.E., Kotinas V.
E-ISSN: 2945-1159
72
Volume 2, 2024